One Introducing Jigsaw cities
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Anne Power
Abstract
This chapter sets out the scope of the study and looks closely at urban and housing history, current dilemmas, and the urban future. It uses the metaphor of the jigsaw to capture the complexity and interconnectedness of modern British cities as it responds to powerful social, economic, and environmental forces. It explains that beginner jigsaws like early cities have few pieces and easily assembled shapes while advanced jigsaws have thousands of small and distinct but hard to distinguish pieces. It notes that modern cities are likewise hugely complex and sometimes seem to defy any order at all, often appearing as a confusing pile of indistinct spaces, structures, and functions – chaotic and unmanageable. The chapter focuses on growth and decline, sprawl and density, economic and environmental imperatives, racial tensions and social harmony.
Abstract
This chapter sets out the scope of the study and looks closely at urban and housing history, current dilemmas, and the urban future. It uses the metaphor of the jigsaw to capture the complexity and interconnectedness of modern British cities as it responds to powerful social, economic, and environmental forces. It explains that beginner jigsaws like early cities have few pieces and easily assembled shapes while advanced jigsaws have thousands of small and distinct but hard to distinguish pieces. It notes that modern cities are likewise hugely complex and sometimes seem to defy any order at all, often appearing as a confusing pile of indistinct spaces, structures, and functions – chaotic and unmanageable. The chapter focuses on growth and decline, sprawl and density, economic and environmental imperatives, racial tensions and social harmony.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables, figures and photographs vii
- Preface xi
- Introducing Jigsaw cities 1
-
How did we get here?
- Jigsaws and Lego sets 13
- Breaking up the jigsaw 37
- Building the New Jerusalem – vision and reality 55
- Cities bounce back – piecing communities together again 79
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Where are we now?
- Britain’s cities today: a progress report 105
- Britain’s cities of yesterday and tomorrow 135
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Where do we go from here?
- Smart cities work 163
- Future cities: piecing the jigsaw together 187
- Afterword: the urban jungle or urban jigsaw? 215
- Notes and references 217
- Bibliography 241
- Index 255
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables, figures and photographs vii
- Preface xi
- Introducing Jigsaw cities 1
-
How did we get here?
- Jigsaws and Lego sets 13
- Breaking up the jigsaw 37
- Building the New Jerusalem – vision and reality 55
- Cities bounce back – piecing communities together again 79
-
Where are we now?
- Britain’s cities today: a progress report 105
- Britain’s cities of yesterday and tomorrow 135
-
Where do we go from here?
- Smart cities work 163
- Future cities: piecing the jigsaw together 187
- Afterword: the urban jungle or urban jigsaw? 215
- Notes and references 217
- Bibliography 241
- Index 255
